Psalm 44:1-3
"We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old...":
what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old...":
(Psalm 44:1)
You learn a great deal about people from the stories they tell. Sometimes these stories are about family members, co-workers, neighbors or classmates. And sometimes people tell the best stories about themselves. The Psalmist celebrates the storytelling of his ancestors which has become a bridge that has spanned the centuries of God's continuing faithfulness. His words would not have been mass produced in written form but would become part of the oral tradition as stories were told from one person to another, one generation to another.
We have little appreciation for this oral tradition today. Stories are written in many forms from newspapers to books to email, text, and twitter. We view these stories on the nightly news, Internet, and on our own personal smart devices. Maybe I am a little old-fashioned, but I still prefer to hear stories told from person to person...to know the source and see how his or her life has been changed as a result.
Luke tells us that after the shepherds traveled to Bethlehem in response to the angels good news, "they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them." The good news of God's persistent love, told through the voices of countless generations, still makes a difference today. That was true for the Psalmist. It was true for the shepherds. It is also true for you and me.
As the old gospel hymn says, "Keep telling the story, be faithful and true. Let others see Jesus in you."
Prayer: The story of your love has been told from generation to generation, Lord. Help me be a faithful storyteller of the good news of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jim Abernathy
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